Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-03-07
What the Commissioners Propose to
DO Under the New Lave
A TALK WITH NK. wHEArLEY ON THE SUBJECT.

In a talk with Commissioner wheatIey this
morning in regard TO the bill which has passed
Congress authorizing the Commissioners to make,
modify and enforce usual and reasonable police
regulations in the District STAR reporter In
QuiTed OF him how soon the Commissioners would
take advantage of this opportunity and what
would be the general character OF the regulations
they viii prescribe Mr. Wheatley said in reply to
the first question: ave have not yet had time to
consider that BILL but we shall probably attend TO
1t Immediately, as it Is a matter in which we, as
well every citizen Of the District deeply In
terested."
STORAGE OF INFLAMMABLE MATERIAL
Mr.. Wheatley then took up a copy OF the bill and
read its provisions to the reporter, commenting
upon them meanwhile. 'sYou will see" he said,
s'that the third provision authorizes us to .regu-
late the storage OF highly infammable substances
trtct' That OF course applies petroleum and It's
products, and we can make regulations requiring
sod and ssoed and beeTe tn also are
test to discover spurious oils. This is
an important feature Of the BILL and one which
vent the sale OF spurious oils. In fact, we want to
prevent their Introduction into the District"
who has been in the habit of examining the places
where iniiammable substances are stored, and also
testing their purity?"
81 know that" said Mr. Wheatley. sbut that is
all that could be done. He could only report that
he discovered inflammabe substances stored at So
},
rty test II under this act the Commissioners can
now make and enforce needful regulations pre-
scrbng penalty for the saleo of spurious articles,
and also say where all oils shall shall not be
stored, as not To endanger the life and the prop
erty OF people in the neighborhOOd, much good
Will be accomplished.
STREET NuIsANCEs.
"The third provision of the BILL, he continued,
"sayS that we can 1Ocate the places where
licensed vendors on streets and public places shall
stand, ETC. AS there is no clause in this bill re-
peaing the old law, which was that no one should
use the streets or public places for their own pr
vate purposes, it is likely to clash little. How
ever, l think this can be satisfactorily fixed.
In fact, the authority given to is OF such gen.
eral and absolute nature that we can prevent
hereafter the ringing OF bells by the auction
fiend, drivers of milk wagons and others; pre-
vent people from throwing trash and other stuff
into the Streets and also stop the distribution OF
bills and other advertising schemes on the streets
This particularly is a nuisance which should be
abated and you may be sure we shall do It,"
BARKING DOGS AND GROWING BOOSTERS
"Then by the seventh article we can stop the
barking dog and Growing rooster nuisance. We
have had letters from various people complaining
OF these TWO nuisanees, the latter especially,
and am glad that we can now put stop TO il.
Mr.. Webb and myself have had some experience
with the Growing rooster The general public
will be interested particularly In the fifth article.
1t says that can re-eStablish and regulate the
charges TO be made by owners OF hacks
and hackney carriages etc. This means that
certain tarln per nile and per person shall be
charged. But, to US, the best thing about this
bill is That it authorizes the Commissioners to nix
reasonable penalties Tor the violation OF any OF
the regulations we may make by its author
fty. and that We enforce the same in any court
III the District having jurisdiction OF minor
OffenSeS- You will understand, however, that
any regulations the Commissioners may make will
not be intended to interfere with any legitimate
business or reasonable privilege"
Relieving Tax.Payers.
WHAT COLLECTOR COOK SAYS OF THE BILL WHICH
HAS PASSED CONGRESS-.
Mr.. John F. Cook, the collector of taxes said to
STAR reporter to-day, in regard to the bill reev-
ing taxpayers from the heavy penalties for delin-
quent taxes and providing for the payment OF all
arrears and special assessments at six per cent in
stead Of at ten per cent as heretofore: ''The law
says we cannot charge more than the amount pre-
Scr1bed, and we can only enforce 1t by advertise
ment. The only Office OF the Commissioners in his
matter Is 10 receive the money it Is paid ill., The
amount OF general taxes subject TO the provisions
or that act Is in the gross about S140,OOO. After
the elimination OF tine prOpertieS-reaIly exempt
but nevertheless carried into the arrears balance
account, such as taxes on church property, aSy-
lums, District and United States prOperty-there
the benefits OF this enactment. The District has
heretofore or in The past ten years, realized an
average o1 about $50 900 per year in these penal
ties alone which really would lnure TO the benefit
OF the Taxpayer ii he were prompt in the pay
ment OF his taxes In conclusion Mr.. Cook said:
This opportunity will lose to the District in the
penalties and difference OF the amount OF interests
about $4,000 IT, OF course, the Taxpayers take adj
vantage OF it,"